CHICO — There are three openings on the five-member board of the Chico Area Recreation and Park District, a special district which collects revenues from property tax, programming and other areas to run recreation and educational programs in Chico.

The district has just finished updating its master plan for facilities, and has been talking about a revenue measure in order to finish the master plan, repair facilities and finish DeGarmo Community Park off The Esplanade. The current board has been divided about the tax, but has decided to leave the decision to the new board, which will be seated in December.

Terry Cleland

Terry Cleland of Chico. Contributed.

Terry Cleland’s life has crisscrossed the recreation industry, from selling athletic shoes to running a printing and numbering business for athletic jerseys and uniforms, but it may be his talent with finances and strategic planning that led him to file papers.

Cleland, of Chico, is comptroller for Compass, an aggregate and recycling equipment manufacturing firm in Oroville

Age 71, he was born and raised in Chico, attending local schools and CARD recreation programs. He also coached for the program, was involved in a softball association’s efforts to raise money for softball facilities at Community Park, and served on a CARD citizen advisory committee for the park as well.

“I realized that CARD provides inexpensive recreation for everyone.” As an accountant, he also knows that CARD is in “great financial shape” and wants to keep it that way.

“I want to continue that careful, planned growth so that 10 years from now, CARD is in as good a position as it is now.”

Cleland believes that CARD is well run, and believes there are other options for revenue than the revenue measure that the special district is considering.

Regarding the revenue measure, Cleland said, “I think it’s a valid thing to look forward to, but because of the 67 percent voter approval required for a special district, it will be a tough sell.”

If CARD could work up an arrangement with the city, which only requires 55 percent, that would be worth considering, he believes.

He said he has looked over the master plan update, the budget and the recent feasibility study, but thinks there are other ways to raise money, such as more youth and adult sports tournaments, among other events.

Dave Donnan

Dave Donnan of Chico. Contributed

Candidate Dave Donnan has run for a position on the CARD board several times, but his focus hasn’t changed.

Donnan, 66, is a “semi-retired” real estate agent who has lived in Chico since 1980.

Donnan, who has played baseball for roughly 60 years, including on tournament teams, believes “CARD can do better when it comes to maintenance” of its facilities and fields. He has seen other communities able to fund large, well-planned complexes that have brought dollars into a community, along with heightened recreational opportunities.

Improvements are needed on CARD fields, he said, CARD needs to gather more community input, as well as partnering with other organizations to improve the recreational options in Chico.

Donnan said he is against a proposed revenue measure that CARD has been discussing, saying that CARD needs to make a “good faith” effort at raising money, such as selling some of its undeveloped property, rather than a tax.

“I wouldn’t support it unless CARD showed the ability to get money and prove it can wisely spend it.”

Donnan would like CARD to work with EveryBody Health Body, a nonprofit that has been proposing a recreation and sports complex that could compliment CARD’s efforts, he said. The nonprofit has been looking at property south of town but has not purchased anything. Leaders say it’s a long-term vision.

Working with the nonprofit would show to the community that CARD can leverage its assets on its current budget, he said.

He points to CARD’s partnering with the skateboard community to create the redesigned Humboldt Avenue Skate Park this year as how the recreation district can work without an added tax.

He has not served in a public office previously.

Gary Houser

Gary Houser of Chico. Contributed

An acquaintance suggested that Gary Houser run for a seat on CARD because the Chico native’s life has revolved around sports and recreation.

Houser, 72, is retired and has been a coach and a teacher for 26 years, serving at high school, community college, and Chico State University levels. He was Chico State’s last football coach before the university discontinued the program in 1996. He also coached football at Shasta College in Redding, serving the last 16 years as dean and athletic director for the school. He also is commissioner of California Golden Valley Conference, a network of eight community colleges, he said, and has dealt with athletic programs throughout that region for the last three years. He is now retired.

“I’ve been involved in CARD activities since I was running around the streets and parks of Chico.”

In college, he worked for CARD, and his children and now grandchildren have participated in CARD programs, which he attends.

“I want to help CARD continue its great success.”

With his experience, he said, “I want to help develop and continue (CARD’s) plan, and to use my background in athletics, sports, fundraising and budgeting.”

Houser said CARD is “a shining example of what a community can and should do for its residents.”

“Many places I’ve visited don’t have anything like CARD.”

He said he appreciates the neighborhood and community parks that CARD owns and wants to see them protected. He would also like to see a relationship between CARD and EveryBody Healthy Body, especially when it comes to aquatics.

“We need places where we can train and have aquatic programs and teach kids about swimming and safety.”

He is supportive of exploring a revenue measure.

“When you talk about a general obligation bond, you need to have a program to benefit a lot of community members, not something narrow. It’s a big interest of mine.”

Houser said he had been involved in fundraising, and was experienced with two bond measures to benefit Chico State University and two at Shasta College.

The second part of this series on CARD candidates will appear on Friday.